Professor Epstein Wants Wal-Mart Doctors

Professor Richard Epstein from the University of Chicago School of Law has written an op-ed in Forbes regarding the current health care proposals being floated in the House and Senate. Unsurprisingly, as a staunch libertarian, Professor Epstein does not support the current plans. His proposed solutions are quite surprising however:

The current bills should be dropped forthwith. The new motto is "redistribution last." Deregulation of an overheated market should be the new focus. Slash state mandates on health care coverage; allow interstate competition in insurance markets; relax interstate licensing requirements; permit nonmedical institutions like Wal-Mart ( WMT - news - people ) and CVS pharmacy to enter the primary care markets; reform medical malpractice law; and thin out senseless privacy diktats. Lower costs will revive the voluntary market and reduce costs and increase access for seriously sick people. The health care debate will continue to careen out of orbit until we return to the basic libertarian presumption that government intervention is an evil until shown to be a good.

Can Wal-Mart save healthcare? The article is worth the read.

P.S. Forgive my recent infrequent posting. It's final seasons here in California.